Waiting for 3G:
It's the Handset, Stupid

By

Jon Moynihan

Updated May 24, 2004 12:01 a.m. ET

LONDON -- We consumers have all been sitting patiently, waiting for the wonderful explosion of new capabilities promised by so-called third-generation mobile phones. Why have we waited so long? Why have there been so many apparent false starts? Why for example hasn't the "3" telephone network from Hutchison taken off as hoped in the six months-plus since it has been launched?

The reason for delay so far has been the sheer technical complexity of 3G technology and the difficulties that were encountered in making...